In its path of survival and loss of humanity, The Walking Dead won a legion of fans because of a gripping and intense plot. This story explores how each character evolves, focusing on experiences and the drive to overcome trauma and viewers follow their growth and mourn hardships and losses in a post-apocalyptic world.

Nu Udra is the apex predator of the Oilwell Basin in Monster Hunter Wilds, and for good reason. Its appearance resembles an eldritch octopus, its multiple tentacles are basically individual enemies to contend with, and it can set itself ablaze. However prepared you think you might be for the encounter, the slightest miscalculation can promptly send you back to camp.Despite how daunting Nu Udra is, knowledge is still power. This guide covers the Nu Udra weaknesses and resistances to prepare accordingly, where to find it, and the best strategy to defeat one of the most formidable foes introduced in Monster Hunter Wilds.Nu Udra locationYoull first encounter Nu Udra in Chapter 2, during the Long Forgotten Flame main mission. As such, all you need to do to unlock the monster is progress through the main questline.Nu Udra inhabits the Basin biome exclusively, meaning you wont encounter it elsewhere. Surprisingly enough, Long Forgotten Flame is the only main mission where you have to actually track down your targets location by looking for tracks. If youre wondering where to find Nu Udra, the monster is on the underground portion of the Basin biome. The 15 and 14 areas are the most common, but can sometimes be seen in 4 as well. As long as youre heading toward these spots, youll encounter the tracks, which will then point the fireflies to its location, so it shouldnt take too long.How to prepare for Nu UdraNu Udra is part of the main story of Monster Hunter Wilds. As such, its encounter is likely to fit your Hunter Rank at that corresponding moment. If you have a weapon with Water as its main element, youll have the advantage of targeting an elemental weakness.As for armor, I was using a combination of the Rey Dou and Arajakan sets, if only for the higher defense available at that point in the campaign, but your mileage may vary. The Arajakan set comes particularly handy against Nu Udra, as it primarily boosts your Fire resistance. If youre struggling with the flaming octopus, repeating the Arajakan fight a few times will give you a stronger foundation.Since the encounter occurs during a main mission, youll be thrust into the fray after the introductory cutscene. As per usual, whenever youre asked if youre ready to depart, make sure that youre carrying regular and mega potions with you. If youre short on the latter, take a lap around the biome and loot any honey you come across. That being said, you might find it in the Forest biome more easily. Cool Drinks are also a must when youre in the Basin biome.In addition, dont forget to eat you can use the portable BBQ to grill a meal. Increasing your health and stamina is essential, as Nu Udra packs a punch. You can use ingredients like Wild Herb as finishing touches to boost your elemental resistance, helpful for Nu Udras fire.For later encounters, carrying a few Puddle Pods will be beneficial if either you or one of your teammates have a ranged weapon with Water Ammo, even better. Weapons with Water as main element arent that popular of a choice. Unless youre spending a considerable time in the Basin biome, dont go out of your way to craft one just for Nu Udra.Nu Udra weaknessNu Udras recommended elemental attack is Water, which encompasses Water Ammo, Puddle Pod, Water Attack, Critical Element, and Charge Master in addition to your own weapons properties.You can find a breakdown of Nu Udras elemental weaknesses and resistances below:Effective status effectsPoison: 2 starsSleep: 2 starsParalysis: 1 starBlastblight: 1 starStun: 2 starsExhaust: 2 starsEffective itemsFlash Pod: No effectSonic Bomb: No effectShock Trap: EffectivePitfall Trap: EffectiveIn terms of weak points and breakable parts, Nu Udras weak point is its Mouth. Its Head can be broken, and its Arms (x6) can be severed.You can find a breakdown of Nu Udras weak points below:PartSeverBluntRangedFireWaterThunderIceDragonHead4 stars4 stars3 starsNo Effect1 star1 star1 star1 starMembrane2 stars3 stars2 starsNo Effect1 star1 star1 star1 starMouth4 stars4 stars4 starsNo Effect1 star2 stars1 star1 starTorso3 stars4 stars3 starsNo Effect1 star1 star1 star1 starTentacle2 stars3 stars2 starsNo Effect1 star1 star1 star1 starFront Left Arm3 stars3 stars3 starsNo Effect1 star1 star1 star1 starMiddle Left Arm3 stars3 stars3 starsNo Effect1 star1 star1 star1 starMiddle Right Arm3 stars3 stars3 starsNo Effect1 star1 star1 star1 starRear Left Arm3 stars3 stars3 starsNo Effect1 star1 star1 star1 starRear Right Arm3 stars3 stars3 starsNo Effect1 star1 star1 star1 starFor details about what to expect in terms of attacks and general behavior, the following section has you covered.Nu Udra attacks and strategyTheres no point in sugar-coating it: Nu Udras tentacles suck. All six of them can be commanded individually. Meaning that, regardless of which direction youre attacking the monster from, itll be quick to retaliate without having to turn back. Some attacks are easier to anticipate, as the target will lift a tentacle and show its glowing interior before slamming it down. Others dont have that signal and are based solely on movement cues.If youre close to a tentacle, the rule of thumb is that Nu Udra will be likely to use it. Its imperative to keep an eye out on your stamina, so youre ready to dodge as often as possible and then strike back while the tentacle is exposed. Staying in movement is helpful, too. Rather than memorizing every single cue to try and predict attacks, its best to learn how the monster behaves to find openings.Alongside sheer tentacle power, the eerie octopus is quite big, and some attacks take advantage of its scale. If you see Nu Udra lift its head and upper body backwards, its likely to follow up with a fast march forward. Getting out of the way is key to avoiding damage, and also for repositioning yourself to attack its back or one of its sides.Another attack has Nu Udra using its body is a big slam of sorts. Nu Udras inflates its body, spreading itself up and out before using four tentacles to attack its front in a wider arc than usual. Another this move at all costs, but without putting too much distance to avoid your chance for a counter. If you use focus mode, youll notice that the tentacles will be vulnerable to a wound attack.Lets talk about Nu Udras enraged state. It will be impossible to miss; its entire body gets engulfed in flames, gaining a few deadly moves in the process. If you can place a Shock Trap while the animation is taking place, itll likely interrupt the first attack, giving you time to prepare accordingly. Eventually, though, youll have to face the fire.If you see Nu Udra lift its body upwards while tilting its head to the side and putting a tentacle pointing downwards, it means its about to let out a stream of fire from said tentacle. Think of its range as a shockwave of sorts, albeit with some room to escape from the sides. The fire spreads quickly, so youll want to avoid dodging backwards and instead escape sideways. If you happen to be in close range, then you should dodge toward its back. Youll get a few seconds of animation time to attack.Also, if you get too far away from the monster during the enraged state, itll likely respond by throwing fire projectiles at you, usually in pairs. Theres a bigger, more dangerous iteration of this attack, in which Nu Udra spins around and lets out a shower of said projectiles on all sides.Remember that Nu Udras weak spot is its Mouth. If you use a melee weapon, you wont have many opportunities to attack it directly, so youll have to do the most when the creature is stunned on the ground. In any case, focusing on the tentacles isnt a bad idea, as theyre prone to be severed if punished for long enough. Doing so wont render them immobile, but itll reduce their range. Make sure to take the time to carve them, too.Lastly, the monster can escape through walls into other areas, aside from just plain escaping using its tentacles to move somewhere else. Nu Udra can also carve a hole in the ground to submerge itself underneath the arena and reappear somewhere nearby. Itll likely try to attack you while doing this, so keep an eye out.Nu Udra dropsIf youre wondering what the Nu Udra drops in Monster Hunter Wilds are, you can find a handy list below:Low Rank materialsMaterialAvailability/ProbabilityFrequencySourceNu Udra HideTarget rewards (x1/25%). Wound destroyed reward (x1/45%). Carving (x1/38%)3 starsN/ANu Udra OilmucusTarget rewards (x1/25%). Wound destroyed reward (x1/43%). Carving (x1/23%)3 starsN/ANu Udra HornTarget rewards (x1/11%). Broken part rewards (x1/100%). Carving (x1/11%)3 starsHeadNu Udra SpikeTarget rewards (x1/15%). Wound destroyed reward (x1/12%). Carving (x1/18%). Carving severed part (x5/35%)2 starsArmNu Udra TentacleTarget rewards (x1/11%). Carving (x1/13%). Carving severed part (x5/60%)2 starsArmNu Udra CertificateTarget rewards (x1/8%)1 starN/ANu Udra Cerebrospinal FluidTarget rewards (x1/5%). Carving (x1/7%). Carving severed part (x5/5%)1 starArmHigh Rank TKIf youre looking for other creatures to fight, our monster list provides a full rundown of every encounter, while we have specific guides for Doshaguma, Lala Barina, Nu Udra, Guardian Rathalos, Rey Dau, and Ajarakan.

Doshaguma is a solid contender for your first big obstacle in Monster Hunter Wilds. Big is a deliberate statement the bear-like towering beast uses its scale to attack with ferocious speed. Its hitbox may seem to be on your side, but youll be spending a ton of time just dodging its ground slams and massive fangs.A recurring monster found across multiple biomes, Doshaguma is one target that you should always be prepared for. This guide covers the Doshaguma weaknesses and resistances to prepare accordingly, where to find it, and the best strategy to defeat one of the new foes introduced in Monster Hunter Wilds.Doshaguma locationYoull first encounter Doshaguma in Chapter 1, during the Forest Findings main mission. As such, all you need to do to unlock the monster is progress through the main questline.Doshaguma is usually found in the Plains biome, but theres a chance of seeing it in the Forest and Wyveria during the post-game (once you finish Chapter 3). In the first chapter, the beast tends to roam around 8, 9, and 10, and can sometimes be leading a pack (which is the case when you encounter it in the story campaign). This varies in the Forest biome, but the monsters resting place is the top of 10, and usually follows the river to either side.Keep in mind that in Monster Hunter Wilds, tracking monsters isnt really a prominent feature. Except for a few first-time exceptions, you can use the Environment Overview screen to see if your target is roaming around the map. If not, exploring its corresponding biome(s) for a few minutes usually does the trick youll see a notification on screen announcing its appearance. Worst case scenario, you can speak to Alma and post a hunt for it. For better or worse, the process of finding a monster is much more streamlined now. If you find tracks or other monster residuals on the ground, you can loot them for materials.How to prepare for DoshagumaDoshaguma is part of the main story of Monster Hunter Wilds. As such, its encounter is likely to fit your Hunter Rank at that corresponding moment. It can be a tricky fight however, your first smackdown with it is sort of orchestrated. The sequence serves as a showcase of harsh weather in Wilds, namely a lightning storm that takes place in the Plains biome. Youll have to dodge lightning, but that also applies to Doshaguma, who isnt as agile.If your encounter goes similarly to mine, youll see that Doshaguma will have a few obstacles to contend with aside from lightning strikes. Theres a chance for a Balahara to show up and wrestle with the bear-like creature. And, toward the end, a sand pit will end the encounter prematurely.None of this means that Doshaguma wont put up a fight, though. If you have a weapon with Fire or Thunder as its main element, youll have the advantage of targeting an elemental weakness. As for armor, I was using almost every piece of the Lala Barina set, if only for the higher defense available at that point in the campaign, but your mileage may vary.Since the encounter occurs during a main mission, youll be thrust into the fray after the introductory cutscene. As per usual, whenever youre asked if youre ready to depart, make sure that youre carrying regular and mega potions with you. If youre short on the latter, take a lap around the biome and loot any honey you come across.In addition, dont forget to eat you can use the portable BBQ to grill a meal if you didnt eat at camp. Increasing your health and stamina is essential, as Doshaguma packs a punch. You can use ingredients like Wild Herb as finishing touches to boost your elemental resistance, helpful for the lightning strikes, but again, I wouldnt worry too much about that specific aspect of the fight.For later encounters, carrying a few Torch or Thunder Pods will be beneficial if either you or one of your teammates have a ranged weapon with Flaming or Thunder Ammo, even better. I also recommend investing in defense as much as possible. Remember that you can not only craft better armor, but also upgrade your current pieces. Even if you dont have new monsters left to hunt to unlock more powerful sets, take the time to improve your gear and boost its stats.Doshaguma weaknessDoshaguma can be a hefty obstacle if youre unprepared thankfully, as one of the first complex mons in Monster Hunter Wilds, there are multiple ways to use that complexity to your advantage. Doshagumas recommended elemental attacks are Fire and Thunder. The first encompasses Flaming Ammo, Torch Pod, as well as skills like Fire Attack, Critical Element, and Charge Master. The second encompasses Thunder Ammo, Thunder pod, Thunder Attack, Critical Element, and Charge Master. Both are in addition to your own weapons properties.You can find a breakdown of Doshagumas elemental weaknesses and resistances below:Effective status effectsPoison: 2 starsSleep: 2 starsParalysis: 2 starsBlastblight: 2 starsStun: 2 starsExhaust: 2 starsEffective itemsFlash Pod: EffectiveSonic Bomb: No effectShock Trap: EffectivePitfall Trap: EffectiveWeak pointsDoshagumas weak point is its Belly. Both its Forelegs (x2) and Tail Hair can be broken as well.Before diving deep into combat strategy, heres the breakdown of Doshagumas weak points:PartSeverBluntRangedFireWaterThunderIceDragonHead3 stars3 stars3 stars2 stars1 star2 stars1 star1 starTorso2 stars3 stars2 stars2 stars1 star1 star1 star1 starLeft Foreleg3 stars3 stars3 stars1 star1 star1 star1 star1 starRight Foreleg3 stars3 stars3 stars1 star1 star1 star1 star1 starLeft Hind Leg3 stars2 stars2 stars1 star1 star1 star1 star1 starRight Hind Leg3 stars2 stars2 stars1 star1 star1 star1 star1 starTail Hair2 stars2 stars2 stars1 star1 star1 star1 starNo EffectFor details about what to expect in terms of attacks and general behavior, the following section has you covered.Doshaguma attacks and strategyDoshagumas main traits are its aggressiveness and scale, which go hand in hand to be a major pain to deal with. When youre facing it head on, it has a number of attack variations around biting and slashing with its massive paws. Some are quicker while others are slower but deal more damage. Heres a rule of thumb that applies to almost everything Doshaguma does: If it opens its mouth to growl, that means its about to attack.The head isnt exactly a weak point, but its usually the area youll be hitting the most. Again, Doshaguma is quick to react, so itll be constantly trying to follow you. If you use quickstep to either side of the head, the monster usually scratches the ground for a quick hit this is also one of the few attacks that isnt prefaced by a growl.Most of the time, the beast is going to stand up slightly and go for a slam attack, either with its paws or mouth. Remember that its forelegs can be broken, which are good areas to punish when you have a chance.Fighting Doshaguma means constant dodging, to the point where it might take some time until you actually find an opening to strike back. Its crucial to exploit any visible wounds whenever possible, which can give you the chance to stun it to the ground, exposing the belly, its weak point.The enraged state basically amps up the aforementioned attacks, making them more frequent. One move in particular sees it spinning around in place before ending with a slam ground attack, so your best bet is to try and steer away from it unless you can target a wound during the animation, which will potentially stop it altogether. To know when Doshaguma is enraged, look at its head, as itll be fuming from its nose.Toward the second half of the encounter, theres a second enraged state. The creature lets out a loud growl, and if youre in focus mode, youll see multiple wounds appear on its body. This is good, but you shouldnt attack it head-on. Now, most of its attacks involving slam grounds will create cracks on the surface of impact. They will usually happen in either pairs or trios, with the third being a bigger slam using both paws.The last and probably the most dangerous move during this second enraged state is a reverse slam of sorts. Once Doshaguma creates these fisures, it sometimes does a lift animation that uses all that terrain against you for a huge attack. If you see it scratching the ground or spending too much time near ground cracks, try to put as much distance from it as possible. Whenever you see a window of opportunity, go for the wounds, but be mindful of how itll use the terrain to its advantage during this later phase. If you have traps in your inventory, this will be a good time to use them.Doshaguma dropsIf youre wondering what the Doshaguma drops in Monster Hunter Wilds are, you can find a handy list below:Low Rank materialsMaterialAvailability/ProbabilityFrequencySourceDoshaguma FurTarget rewards (x1/27%). Broken part rewards (x1/100%). Wound Destroyed reward (x1/50%). Carving (x1/30%)4 starsTail HairDoshaguma ClawTarget rewards (x1/15%). Broken part rewards (x2/100%). Carving (x1/15%)4 starsForelegsDoshaguma HideTarget rewards (x1/27%). Wound destroyed reward (x1/50%). Carving (x1/35%)3 starsN/ADoshaguma FangTarget rewards (x1/20%). Carving (x1/20%)2 starsN/ADoshaguma CertificateTarget rewards (x1/11%)1 starN/AHigh Rank materialsMaterialAvailability/ProbabilityFrequencySourceDoshaguma Fur+Target rewards (x1/27%). Broken part rewards (x1/100%). Wound Destroyed reward (x1/50%). Carving (x1/27%)4 starsTail HairDoshaguma Claw+Target rewards (x1/15%). Broken part rewards (x2/100%). Carving (x1/15%)4 starsForelegsDoshaguma Hide+Target rewards (x1/27%). Wound destroyed reward (x1/50%). Carving (x1/33%)3 starsN/ADoshaguma Fang+Target rewards (x1/20%). Carving (x1/20%)2 starsN/ADoshaguma Certificate STarget rewards (x1/8%)1 starN/AIf youre looking for other creatures to fight, our monster list provides a full rundown of every encounter, while we have specific guides for Lala Barina, Nu Udra, Guardian Rathalos, Rey Dau, and Ajarakan.

Getting rid of stuff can be hard, even if youre not exactly a hoarder. Its hard enough for so many of us in our consumerist society, in fact, that scientists have studied why that isand are always coming up with ways to overcome an aversion to decluttering our lives. Just in time for spring cleaning season, look to research published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology that suggests theres a way to ease yourself into parting with old belongings: Instead of throwing them out all at once, banish them to purgatory first.What it means to put clutter in purgatoryThe researchers, Mathew S. Isaac and Poornima Vinoo, kicked off their paper by explaining that people who struggle to part with their possessions tend to jump through hoops to avoid doing itand may only manage to do so by employing various behavioral strategies to ease the psychological strain. One such strategy that has proven useful for some, the researchers note, is relegating unnecessary but hard-to-part-with items to out of sight status, in the hopes that they will then drop out of mind and can be later disposed of, minus the hand-wringing. According to ethnographic research, one such strategy is to move products into purgatories, or temporary liminal spaces, they write. In other words: Before throwing out your old photos, books, receipts, mementos, or knick knacks for good, put them into a space somewhere between your everyday environment and the trash. Essentially, banish things you think you should probably get rid of to a box or a junk drawer where you wont access them, but youll know theyre still around. Once you no longer have to look at them every day, youll hopefully realize how little you actually need them once its time for a major purge, and theyll be easier to donate, sell, or trash.Why the purgatory method helps you get rid of your junkIsaac and Vinoo reviewed three existing studies that indicated moving items into purgatories helps people brace for the inevitability of disposal. However, their research uncovered a new reason it works, and it has nothing to do with a reduction of attachment. Specifically, purgatories are shown to trigger mental simulation of the product disposal process, thereby helping product owners brace for the looming loss of their product, they write.In simpler terms, when you condemn an item to its purgatory, its a practice run for throwing it away for real. Not only will you be lessening your attachment to physical objects in a gradual way by removing them from your everyday environment, youll be rehearsing for the moment when you actually junk them permanently.How to get started putting your excess stuff into purgatoryWhen you're decluttering, make a separate pile of things you think you could get rid of, even if you arent quite ready to pull the trigger yet, in addition to the clear-cut piles of things to toss, sell, donate, and keep. You dont have to commit to throwing them all away, but this will get you thinking about the possibility. Outdated clothes you dont wear anymore, single-use kitchen tools you havent picked up in ages, and toys your kids have aged out ofbasically, all the stuff you hold onto for sentimental or "just in case" reasonscan go into purgatory. Make sure purgatory is someplace youwont have to look at every day. The idea is to forget whats in there so you can see just how inconsequential it really is. Put the box deep in a closet, down in the basement, or on a shelf in the garage. For maximum efficiency, use separate boxes for things that wont be useful to anyone else, and things that could reasonably be donated. That way, when it's time for them to go to their final resting place, you can bring one box to the donation center and throw one out without having to go through them again, which will reduce the likelihood of you reneging on anything that's in there. Challenge yourself not to venture into purgatory except to put more stuff in therebut take heart knowing the research shows you probably wont even want to. Set a reminder in your phone for a month from now, and on that day, transport the items to their final destination, whether thats the trash or the donation center. In the event you find you actually need to use something from the box during that month, you can consider taking it as a sign that the item was a necessary one. (That is very unlikely, by the way.)Other ways to part with things you're not sure aboutI know better than anyone how easy it is to manufacture excuses for not getting rid of clutter. I am the reigning queen of holding on to something "just in case" I need it in the future. The thing is, though, you can make that excuse for everything you own. A purgatory box is a great way to bridge the gap between knowing something is probably trash and actually throwing it out, which is why I have a purgatory shelf for old clothes. But there are other methods designed to make it easier on you to toss things out on sight and those get even faster results than having to wait around to dispose of a box for a month. I recommend familiarizing yourself with these decluttering questions. When you're sorting through a closet, a cabinet, a drunk drawer, or wherever else, asking objective, reasonable questions is one of the easiest ways to disentangle from any sentimentality or excuse-making. Some of the questions include, "Would I know I had this if I needed it?" and "When was the last time I used this?" Reframing how you think of a particular item and its utility can help you part with it. I used to be all about the KonMari method, which has you ask yourself if each item you pick up "sparks joy" for you, but the issue was that I could do enough mental and emotional gymnastics to claim that everything I owned sparked joy. If you're like me, switching over to a more rigid (and, admittedly, harsher) line of questioning can be the push you need. If, after answering the questions about a certain item, you're still unsure whether you can give it up, toss it into the purgatory box. Combining methods is totally fine as long as you commit to the goal of ultimately getting rid of what isn't serving you and is, in fact, just mucking up your space.

Game Freak held a Pokmon Presents livestream today and we finally got a good look at Pokmon Legends: Z-A. The new trailer for the follow-up to the well-received Pokmon Legends: Arceus reveals the massive Lumiose City, which first appeared in Pokmon X and Y all the way back in 2013. Its a bustling metropolis filled with skyscrapers, and a far cry from the serene countryside of Arceus.The trailer spotlighted the three starter Pokmon players will be able to choose from. They include the gen 2 starters Chikorita and Totodile and the gen 5 starter Tepig. We also got a better look at the gameplay elements, and they seem like something of a hybrid between the real-time capture mechanics of Arceus and the old-school turn-based gameplay of traditional Pokmon titles.Pokmon Legends: Z-A will also bring back Mega Evolutions, which turn regular pocket monsters into superpowered monstrosities with temporary stat boosts. This mechanic, just like Z-As location, was first introduced in Pokmon X and Y.We have a bit longer to wait for this one. The game doesnt come out until the end of the year. Its also being released for the original Switch, despite the fact that the Switch 2 will most likely be on store shelves by that point. However, long-time readers may remember that the Switch 2 is backwards compatible, so itll run on both machines.Game Freak also showed off a new game called Pokmon Champions, which is a cross-platform battle sim. Todays Pokmon Presents livestream celebrated the 29th birthday of the franchise. Happy birthday, cute pets we force to live inside of tiny balls and fight to the death!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/new-pokemon-legends-z-a-trailer-reveals-an-absolutely-massive-version-of-lumiose-city-180550052.html?src=rss

Looking for Quordle clues? We can help. Plus get the answers to Quordle today and past solutions.

Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.

Stripe on Thursday announced a tender offer for employees and shareholders that valued the company at $91.5 billion, nearly 41% higher than its valuation a year ago, potentially delaying the fintech firms ambitions of going public.The deal signals the strong recovery of the global venture capital sector, as central banks have started to cut interest rates amid subdued inflation and strong economic data.Stripe was profitable in 2024, and we expect to be so in 2025 and beyond, co-founders John Collison and Patrick Collison said in their annual letter published on Thursday.The payments processing company was valued at $65 billion in a deal last year, which allowed employees to cash out their stock.At its peak, Stripe was valued at $95 billion in 2021.The company serves a variety of high-profile customers, including Elon Musk-led social media platform X, Amazon, car rental firm Hertz Global and grocery delivery app Instacart.Stripe, which has headquarters in San Francisco and Dublin, allows companies to accept payments, send payouts and automate financial processes.Pritam Biswas and Jaiveer Shekhawat, Reuters

FBI Director Kash Patel is considering bringing in trainers from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to beef up agents martial arts and self-defense skills, according to four people familiar with the plan laid out on a call this week with FBI field offices.The newly appointed director discussed the idea during his first video conference call with the bureaus 55 field office supervisors on Wednesday, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss the calls contents because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Two people briefed on the matter said current FBI agents described the idea as surreal and wacky.The FBI declined to comment, and a spokesperson for UFC did not have an immediate comment.President Donald Trump is a fan of the sport, mixed martial arts bouts that pit two competitors against each other in a cage, and notably attended a UFC event in New York days after his November election victory, sitting with UFC President Dana White, who he counts as a close friend.During the call, Patel said that Dan Bongino, a far-right podcaster whom Trump tapped to be the FBIs deputy director, is a huge UFC fan and that he inspired Patel to try the training, one of the people briefed on the call said. Patel added that he thinks it is great, and is exploring a partnership between the FBI and the UFC.There is training the FBI receives in physical altercations. If Kash Patel believed that should be beefed up, the answer is not to go to Donald Trumps best friend who runs the UFC, a former Justice Department official said, when asked about Patels proposal.Its clearly motivated by the glitz and glamour show, and Trumps friend, said the official, who was granted anonymity out of concern about possible retribution.It was not immediately clear how any partnership would work.Patel has rattled the bureau since he was sworn in last week. One of his first acts was to call for some 1,500 FBI employees to be transferred from Washington to field offices around the country and an FBI office in Huntsville, Alabama.Patel telegraphed his plans to shake up the FBIs operations in his book Government Gangsters, in which he called for moving headquarters out of Washington, D.C., and curbing the historical practice of requiring FBI agents who wish to serve in supervisory roles from doing 18-month stints at headquarters to gain experience.During Wednesdays nationwide call with field offices, Patel reiterated his commitment to scaling back staffing at headquarters and re-distributing people into the field, two people familiar with the call said.He also said Bongino will begin visiting field offices immediately after he starts his new job in mid-March, one of the people added.Sarah N. Lynch, Reuters

That's a saving of $24 per month or $288 yearly.